Bollywood thesp dies

Character actor Baswani starred in 'Jaane bhi do yaaro'

Bollywood thesp Ravi Baswani, who was featured in such pics as “Jaane bhi do yaaro,” died following a heart attack July 27 in Shimla, India. He was 63.

Baswani was a comedian and character actor who broke into films with the 1981 Deepti Naval comedy “Chashme buddoor,” where he played a slacker roommate of the lead. After a couple of minor roles he toplined laffer “Jaane bhi do yaaro” with Naseeruddin Shah.

Sai Paranjpe, who directed “Chashme buddoor,” told the Indian press that Baswani had perfect comic timing.

Thesp started in showbiz in theater before seguing to the bigscreen. Baswani was featured in minor roles in several other Bollywood pics including the blockbuster “Bunty aur Babli.”

He also worked in TV including in pubcaster Doordarshan’s laffer “Idhar udhar” in the 1980s.

Thesp was in Shimla scouting locations for his directorial venture at the time of his death.